Approved Tools & Platforms

AI assistants and deployment platforms authorized for Expert-Driven Development. Use only approved tools. CUI is authorized only on IL5 platforms. PII requires a PIA. Classified data is authorized only on CamoGPT (SIPR/IL6).

Classification Reminder

Never input classified information into any AI tool unless it operates on a classified network. CamoGPT on SIPR/IL6 is the only listed tool authorized for classified data. CUI may only be processed on IL5-authorized platforms (GenAI.mil, CamoGPT). ChatGPT and Gemini are IL5-authorized when accessed via GenAI.mil; when accessed through their commercial websites, they are restricted to unclassified data only. PII and PHI require anonymization before use on any AI platform, including IL5 tools, unless a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) has been completed and approved. When in doubt, consult your Cybersecurity Office or Privacy Officer.

AI Assistants

The following AI assistants are approved for use in EDD development. Authorization levels indicate the scope of approved use and data handling permissions.

Approved AI assistants for EDD development
Tool Authorization Data Boundary Best For Access
GenAI.mil DoD-authorized IL5 (CUI-capable; PII requires PIA) CUI-safe prompting, sensitive administrative tasks CAC-authenticated at genai.mil
CamoGPT Army-managed, DoD-authorized IL5 (NIPR, CUI-capable) & IL6 (SIPR) Code generation, technical writing, data analysis CAC-authenticated at camogpt.mil
ChatGPT Available via GenAI.mil; also commercial IL5 via GenAI.mil; unclassified via chatgpt.com General-purpose drafting, brainstorming, code generation Available on GenAI.mil (CAC) or chatgpt.com (commercial, unclassified only)
Grok Available via GenAI.mil IL5 via GenAI.mil General-purpose reasoning, summarization Available on GenAI.mil (CAC)
M365 Copilot Enterprise-authorized DoW M365 tenant Document drafting, email, Excel, Teams integration M365 Copilot license via admin
Copilot Studio Enterprise-authorized DoW M365 tenant Building conversational AI assistants and bots Power Platform license
Azure OpenAI Enterprise-authorized Azure Government (FedRAMP High) Custom API-driven development, embeddings Azure Gov subscription
Gemini Available via GenAI.mil; also commercial IL5 via GenAI.mil; unclassified via gemini.google.com General-purpose coding, multimodal tasks gemini.google.com (web); also available via GenAI.mil
C3 AI Enterprise-authorized DoW enterprise boundary Data-heavy enterprise applications Enterprise agreement via AI/ML office

GenAI.mil

GenAI.mil is the Department of Defense’s official generative AI portal. It provides CAC-authenticated access to large language models within the DoD security boundary at Impact Level 5 (IL5), making it the primary approved option for prompts involving CUI or sensitive unclassified data (CamoGPT is also IL5-authorized for CUI).

Key Features

  • CAC authentication — no separate account required
  • IL5 data boundary — safe for CUI when used per policy
  • Multiple model options (Gemini, Grok, ChatGPT) under one portal
  • File upload for document analysis and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)
  • Deep research, document formatting, and web grounding
  • Video and imagery analysis
  • Persistent chat histories saved per user
  • No data used for model training

When to Use GenAI.mil

Use GenAI.mil When

  • Your prompt includes CUI or sensitive unclassified information
  • You are drafting documents that reference real personnel, units, or operational details
  • Your organization requires all AI interactions to remain within the DoD boundary
  • You need an auditable record of AI-assisted work

Access

Navigate to genai.mil using a CAC-enabled browser on a DoD network or approved VPN. No additional account creation is required.

Marine Corps Enterprise Primary

Per MARADMIN 018/26 (January 2026), GenAI.mil is the designated enterprise generative AI platform for the Marine Corps. It launched in December 2025, replaces the sunsetted NIPRGPT (Air Force), and serves over 1.1 million unique users across five of six military branches.

CamoGPT

CamoGPT is an Army-managed AI assistant available to military personnel. It operates within the DoD security boundary at IL5 (NIPR) and IL6 (SIPR) and is optimized for code generation, technical writing, and structured data analysis.

Key Features

  • CAC authentication with DoD network access
  • IL5 (NIPR) and IL6 (SIPR) data boundaries — the only listed AI tool with classified network access
  • API access and tool calling for automated workflows
  • File upload and RAG for document analysis
  • Shared workspaces for collaborative editing
  • Optimized for code generation and technical tasks
  • No data retention for model training

When to Use CamoGPT

Use CamoGPT When

  • You need AI-assisted code generation for Power Platform or web development
  • You are analyzing structured data that may contain sensitive details
  • You need to upload documents for AI-assisted review within the DoD boundary
  • You want an alternative to commercial tools for technical tasks

CamoGPT is transitioning toward expanded R&D and agentic AI testing capabilities. Its use is “not limited” per MARADMIN 018/26, but GenAI.mil is the designated enterprise primary for Marines.

Access

Navigate to camogpt.mil using a CAC-enabled browser. Available on DoD networks. Check with your local IT support for network access.

Enterprise Microsoft Tools

M365 Copilot

Integrated directly into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. Data stays within your DoW M365 tenant. M365 Copilot is enterprise-authorized — it is not subject to the commercial tool restrictions below.

Commercial Web Access (Unclassified Only)

The following AI tools can be accessed through their commercial websites for unclassified use only. Do not input CUI, PII, or sensitive data when using commercial web access. Note: ChatGPT and Gemini are also available on GenAI.mil where they are IL5-authorized for CUI — this section covers only their commercial web versions.

ChatGPT & Gemini (Commercial Web)

Web-based AI assistants approved for unclassified work. ChatGPT (chatgpt.com) and Gemini (gemini.google.com) are also available within the DoD boundary via GenAI.mil, where they are IL5-authorized for CUI. When accessed through their commercial websites, use both only with fully unclassified data.

Commercial Tool Restrictions

When using commercial AI websites (chatgpt.com, gemini.google.com), you are outside the DoD security boundary. Treat every prompt as a public disclosure. Do not include real names, unit designations, operational details, or any data you would not post on a public bulletin board. Note: Gemini and ChatGPT are also available inside the DoD boundary via GenAI.mil.

Deployment Platforms

Tools built under EDD must be deployed on approved platforms. The platform determines the security boundary and available features.

Approved deployment platforms for EDD tools
Platform Use Case Authorization Cost
Microsoft Power Platform Low-code apps, automation, dashboards Enterprise-authorized (DoW M365) Included in M365 licensing
SharePoint Online Web-based tools, portals, document management Enterprise-authorized (DoW M365) Included in M365 licensing
Azure Government Cloud-hosted applications, APIs, databases FedRAMP High Requires Azure Gov subscription
GitHub (public) Open-source projects, static sites, documentation Unclassified public release only Free

Tool Comparison

Use this decision matrix to select the right AI assistant for your task.

Decision matrix for selecting the right AI tool
Scenario Recommended Tool Why
Prompt contains CUI GenAI.mil (includes ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok) or CamoGPT Only IL5-authorized tools may process CUI. PII must be anonymized even on IL5 tools unless a completed PIA authorizes it.
Building a Power App with AI assistance CamoGPT or M365 Copilot Code generation within DoD boundary; Copilot integrates with Power Platform
Drafting unclassified correspondence M365 Copilot Integrates directly with Word and Outlook
Complex reasoning or long-form analysis GenAI.mil (ChatGPT) Strong for multi-step reasoning and documentation; IL5/CUI-authorized
General coding assistance GenAI.mil (ChatGPT or Gemini) Strong code generation; both IL5/CUI-authorized on GenAI.mil
Building a conversational bot Copilot Studio Purpose-built for M365 bot creation

Getting Access

DoD Tools (GenAI.mil, CamoGPT)

  1. Ensure you have a valid CAC and a CAC-enabled browser
  2. Connect to a DoD network or approved VPN
  3. Navigate to the tool URL (genai.mil or camogpt.mil)
  4. Authenticate with your CAC — no separate registration required

M365 Copilot

  1. Check with your M365 administrator whether Copilot licenses are available
  2. Request license assignment through your organization’s IT support
  3. Once assigned, Copilot appears in Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams

Commercial Tools (ChatGPT, Gemini)

  1. Navigate to chatgpt.com or gemini.google.com from any browser
  2. Create a personal account (do not use your .mil email)
  3. Use for unclassified work only — treat every prompt as public disclosure
  4. Note: ChatGPT and Gemini are also available on GenAI.mil (IL5, CUI-authorized) via CAC

Security Reminders

Before Every AI Interaction

  1. Classify your data. Does your prompt contain CUI? Use GenAI.mil or CamoGPT. Does it contain PII or PHI? Anonymize it first — PII and PHI require a completed PIA before use on any AI tool; without one, anonymize first.
  2. Check your tool. Is the tool authorized for the data type you are processing?
  3. Sanitize if needed. Replace real names, units, and locations with fictional equivalents before using commercial tools.
  4. Verify output. AI-generated content may contain fabricated references, statistics, or regulation numbers. Verify everything before use.

For complete compliance requirements, see the Compliance and Security section of the SOP.

Preparing for What’s Next

The current MCEN AI toolkit — GenAI.mil, CamoGPT, M365 Copilot, and Power Platform — is the starting point, not the ceiling. The DoD AI landscape is expanding rapidly:

  • The DoD AI roadmap includes expanding GenAI.mil capabilities; CamoGPT already provides API access, tool calling, and IL6/SIPR capabilities
  • GenAI.mil replaces the Air Force’s NIPRGPT, which has been sunsetted; five of six military branches have adopted GenAI.mil as their enterprise AI platform
  • AI-assisted IDEs (like GitHub Copilot and Cursor) are standard in commercial development but not available on MCEN
  • Code execution sandboxes would allow Marines to run AI-generated code directly instead of copy-pasting between platforms
  • These tools would multiply the output of EDD-trained Marines significantly

The EDD methodology is designed to be platform-resilient. The six 201 skills — Context Assembly, Quality Judgment, Task Decomposition, Iterative Refinement, Workflow Integration, and Frontier Recognition — transfer across any AI platform. As new tools come online, Marines trained in EDD will adopt them faster because they already have the judgment framework. The tools will change. The skills won’t.

When Better Tools Arrive

When better tools arrive on MCEN, update the tool references in this curriculum. The methodology doesn’t change — only the specific platform instructions in each exercise.